Tony Krantz

Tony Krantz (born June 16, 1959) is an American film and television producer, writer, and director. Krantz started his career in the American entertainment industry as an agent, spending 15 years at Creative Artists Agency (CAA). He started there as a mailroom trainee and rose to eventually run the primetime television department, where he personally packaged the television series ER, Twin Peaks, Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and The West Wing, among many others. He also put together the movies The Doors and Wild at Heart. Under his leadership at CAA, there were 32 shows on the primetime lineup that the agency represented when Krantz left to start the next part of his career. Krantz transitioned into producing television, and was one of three founders of Imagine Television, serving as its co-chairman and CEO. There he produced Felicity, Sports Night, The PJs, 24 and the movie Mulholland Drive. Krantz left Imagine in 2002 to pursue his path as a film and television director and writer. He has since directed three films, Sublime, Otis, and The Big Bang, and is currently the principal and owner of the independent production company Flame Ventures. Early life Krantz was born on June 16, 1959, in New York City to novelist Judith Krantz and film and television producer Stephen Falk Krantz. Krantz graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1977 where he was senior class president. He then went on to college at the University of California, Berkeley where Krantz worked as a concert promoter for the student body. Krantz produced the Berkeley Jazz Festival in 1980 among numerous punk rock and rock concerts which would later influence his work. Career Two weeks after graduation, Krantz started his professional career in the mailroom at CAA. After being promoted to assistant, Krantz quickly proved his knowledge and merit in the industry. Michael Ovitz noticed his potential and he was made an agent in the TV Literary Department shortly thereafter.